The Mind-Bending Ending You Won't Believe in Black Mirror Playtest!

Summary

With its depiction of cell phone interference leading to a grave predicament, the episode strikes a personal chord and effectively underscores the potential hazards of technology.

Actor Wyatt Russell's depiction of Cooper and his interpretation of the conclusion enhance the depth and emotional impact of the episode's storyline. The "Playtest" episode of Black Mirror is known for being one of the most heart-wrenching episodes to date, yet its unexpected twist was not conceived by creator Charlie Brooker. While Black Mirror delves into the potential dark future of technology, its inspiration often stems from real-life events. Despite the devastating nature of the ending in "Playtest," the origins of the story may actually be funnier than what viewers anticipated. Among the new episodes released in Black Mirror season 6, "Playtest" continues to be one of the most resonant in terms of emotional impact.

The Inspiration For Black Mirror "Playtest"

Cooper, an American abroad played by Wyatt Russell, embarks on an extraordinary experiment. He willingly becomes a participant in an immersive augmented reality video game, with a twist. This game is unlike any other; it cleverly taps into the player's deepest fears, creating an intensely realistic therapeutic experience.

Having seemingly triumphed over the nightmarish challenges, Cooper returns home to his mother. However, a startling revelation unfolds as she calls his cell phone. The devastating truth is exposed - Cooper remains trapped within the game. The phone call disrupts his virtual reality connection and tragically leads to his demise. This gripping concept, responsible for the gripping turn of events in the "Playtest" episode of Black Mirror, is courtesy of the brilliant writer Mallory Ortberg.

In 2015, Ortberg mocked the dark technological themes of the show Black Mirror with a tweet. Her tweet humorously suggested, "What if phones, but too much?" This tweet caught the attention of Brooker, the creator of Black Mirror, who found it amusing. Being known for his dark sense of humor, Brooker decided to incorporate Ortberg's message into the show by using it as the foundation for the twist ending in the episode "Playtest."

The sci-fi horror show commonly delves into storylines that involve technology slightly more advanced than what currently exists. In "Playtest," Black Mirror showcases this by introducing an intelligent video game that Cooper tries out, surpassing the capabilities of existing augmented reality games. This provides a sense of relief to the audience, knowing that such advanced technology is unlikely to be a reality at present. However, the unexpected twist towards the end delivers a powerful impact. Given that most people have their cell phones with them constantly, it raises the question of whether a situation like this, where cell phone interference leads to a serious problem, could actually occur in real life. This exemplifies the show's ability to explore the potential destruction of humanity through technology, creating a chilling effect on its audience. The realization of the dangers associated with a technology that people heavily rely on is deeply unsettling – it highlights the importance of features like Airplane Mode.

Playtest's Link To Reality Is In The Speed Of Cooper's Death

To heighten the chilling factor of "Playtest," the use of a conventional smartphone is not the only element that adds realism; the rapidity with which Cooper perishes also contributes to the realism. When the fatal signal interference occurs, his demise happens in a split second. This may appear dramatic, but phones do transmit information at such a rapid pace, especially the unfavorable kind. While "Playtest" is meant to be an exaggeration, it serves as a reflection of the bombardment of instant and negative information from the internet and phones that people experience in real life.

Dealing with such a massive influx of information is challenging, and in "Playtest," Black Mirror chooses to illustrate this through Cooper's shockingly swift demise. This aspect is yet another instance in which the Black Mirror episode uncomfortably hits close to home, a feat the series consistently accomplishes despite its somewhat fantastical storylines.

What Wyatt Russell Said About The Playtest Ending

Actor Wyatt Russell has garnered acclaim for his work post-"Playtest" Black Mirror episode, notably for his portrayal of John Walker in the MCU. However, this particular episode remains a standout in his career, with his portrayal of Cooper playing a pivotal role in the impactful ending of "Playtest". According to Russell (via THR), Cooper was originally scripted to be more disagreeable, but he and director Dan Trachtenberg collaborated to modify the character, emphasizing the need for audience affinity towards the lead.

Had Cooper been an unsympathetic character, the ending would have resembled a cautionary tale where someone pays the ultimate price for their actions. Instead, viewers are invested in Cooper's escape from the nightmarish situation, only to be crushed when they discover that his entire struggle has been futile. However, Russell offers a darker interpretation of the ending, proposing that even after the conclusion of the "Playtest" episode, Cooper continues to endure torment. He suggests that "I viewed it that he was trapped in this world of hell, but everyone else on the outside of the world thought he was dead."